Vauxhall Motorsport's Yvan Muller took an historic double win in front of
record crowds at today's www.theAA.com British Touring Car Championship
races at Mondello Park, Ireland - the first ever BTCC races to take place
outside the UK. Following his double pole in Saturday's qualifying session,
the Frenchman has taken maximum points away from the weekend witnessed by
more than 15,000 spectators. Muller continues to lead the overall
championship standings 27 points ahead of teammate Jason Plato. Egg Sport
Astra Coupe driver, James Thompson lies in overall third place with 111
points, only five behind Plato.

Muller led the touring cars in Mondello's 15-lap Sprint race from pole
position in a lights to flag victory, catching the production class cars on
lap five and deposing James Kaye (Honda) from the overall race lead in lap
13. Plato followed Muller closely all race until a flat front tyre caused an
unscheduled pit-stop for fresh tyres and dropped him down to last place
amongst the touring car runners.

James Thompson in the Egg Sport Vauxhall Astra Coupe finished second of the
touring cars to rekindle his hopes of this year's BTCC title by closing to
within two points of Plato going into the Feature race. Phil Bennett
suffered an identical fate to Plato and finished sixth in the touring car
category.

The 30-lap Feature Race produced a thrilling start with Vauxhall
Motorsport's Muller beating Plato to the first corner ahead of the Egg Sport
Astra Coupes. Shortly after, Bennett fell victim to the Lexus of Kurt Luby,
which had punted him off in the opening lap. Thompson meanwhile took
advantage of the subsequent tussle between Bennett and Peugeot's Dan Eaves,
taking third place. Muller began pulling away from the field increasing his
lead lap by lap ahead of second placed Plato.

Pit stops began on lap 10 with James Thompson, the first of the Astra Coupes
, coming in early at the end of lap 11. Vauxhall Motorsport's Muller pitted
on lap 12, handing Plato a temporary lead for two laps before the
Oxford-based driver pitted at the end of 14. Plato rejoined just as Thompson
passed the pitlane exit and won the out-braking battle at the next corner.
Plato trailed, waiting for his tyres to heat before successfully making his
move on Thompson, leaving Muller with enough of a lead to cruise to the
chequered flag. Phil Bennett brought his battle-scarred Astra Coupe home
fourth.

"It's great to win the first ever BTCC race to be held in Ireland. I felt I
controlled the gap back to Jason (Plato) and when I heard over the radio
that he had a problem, I just eased off to take less risks, especially over
the kerbs to avoid punctures. I beat Jason to the first corner in the
Feature and had to push very hard for the first 20 laps. The Astra felt
better in this race than in the Sprint and that surprised me and helped me
build enough of a lead to drive carefully for the last 10 laps. I was taking
no risks at all and I think that allowed Jason to catch up with me towards
the end. The brakes worked well here, but I'm a bit concerned about how they
will be at the next race at Donington with all of this extra weight on the
Astra Coupes."

"In the Sprint it wasn't steering too well in the lefthanders, it felt like
a problem at the back of the car. Then I think something broke at the back.
I felt I could still carry on without losing too much time, but I didn't
know we had a slow puncture in a front tyre until it went completely flat
and shredded, so I had to make a pit stop two laps from the end. In the
Feature race I had the wrong pit stop strategy, I should have come in one
lap earlier. The races were both good, but it's not a good beginning of the
season for me - I've had my fair share of bad luck, things have got to
change for me in the future."

"The Sprint was a lucky result. When I saw I couldn't keep up with Jason, I
just drove to save my tyres in case I needed to push towards the end of the
race. Had a good dice with Jason for a while in the Feature and that let
Yvan pull away from us. We made some set-up changes after the Sprint and
that made all the difference. I made an early pit stop and put in a good
couple of quick laps putting me ahead of Jason after his stop. I think I
pushed too hard though and the tyres were really off towards the end of the
race. I'm five points behind Jason now, so I've just got to keep pushing."

"I did my puncture fairly early on, against a kerb, and it was getting
softer and softer. I couldn't make it to the end, so it was a last minute
pit stop for me. I am disappointed, thought it was another podium place. In
the Feature race I think the only car not to hit me was the safety car.
Jason squeezed me wide and on to the grass, then I left space for James to
pass, then everyone else hit me. First it was Luby who half spun me in that
opening lap, then I hit the back of Dan Eaves (Peugeot) towards the end
after someone tapped me."